EPA Unveils Guidance For Diesel Use In Fracking

Law360, New York (May 4, 2012, 6:50 PM EDT) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday published draft guidance for Safe Drinking Water Act permits issued to oil and gas companies that use diesel fuels during hydraulic fracturing.

The agency released the draft guidance to clarify how companies can comply with the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which largely exempted fracking operations from a requirement to obtain underground injection control permits but mandated the permits when diesel fuel is used as a fracturing fluid.

"EPA's goal is to provide greater regulatory clarity and certainty to the...